Rams’ Puka Nacua sued over alleged antisemitic remark, bite

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles woman has filed a civil lawsuit against Puka Nacua, alleging the Rams wide receiver made an “unprovoked anti-Semitic statement” and then bit her on the shoulder.

The lawsuit cites gender-based violence, battery and negligence.

The plaintiff, Madison Atiabi, alleged the events occurred on New Year’s Eve in Century City. In the court document obtained by ESPN, Atiabi said Nacua said, “f… all the Jews” and that she “immediately felt uncomfortable and emotionally upset” because of her Jewish faith.

Later in the trial, Atiabi testified that she was in a car with Nacua when he “forcibly bit” her in the left shoulder, “leaving a circular imprint of his teeth on her body.” The lawsuit also alleges that Nacua bit her friend’s thumb in the car “with such force that her companion screamed in sharp pain.”

The woman requested a temporary restraining order, but that request was denied. A hearing is scheduled for April 14, according to several reports.

News of the lawsuit was first reported by TMZ. Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, said in a statement obtained by ABC News that Nacua denies the allegations in the lawsuit “in the strongest possible terms” and that he has video evidence that “underscores” that Atiabi’s “behavior and actions are inconsistent with the allegations made.”

McCathern said in the statement that “several sober witnesses unequivocally stated that Puka never made the comments claimed by Ms. Atiabi” and called it a “blatant lie.”

He described Nacua biting Atiabi’s shoulder as a “ruckus” to the Los Angeles Times.

“In the months that followed, our office was contacted demanding millions of dollars in exchange for not disclosing these allegations,” McCathern said in a statement obtained by ABC News. “This is not a legitimate legal claim, this is blackmail.”

McCathern said he would file a defamation suit on behalf of Nacua against Atiabi and would “pursue all available legal remedies in response to these false and damaging statements.”

The lawsuit comes days after Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $168.6 million, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Nacua, who just completed his third NFL season in 2025, is also eligible for a contract extension this offseason.

“The timing of Plaintiff’s recent lawsuit – more than three months after the alleged incident and just days after JSN’s record-breaking contract as a wide receiver – further highlights the complete lack of credibility behind these accusations,” McCathern said in the statement obtained by ABC News.

ESPN has also reached out to Nacua’s agent for comment.

In December, Nacua released a statement apologizing for an action during an internet livestream that was “anti-Semitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.”

Nacua made the gesture during a live stream with two internet streamers, who suggested he perform the gesture as part of his upcoming touchdown celebration. In the statement, Nacua said that “at the time he had no idea” of the nature of the gesture, which has been associated with anti-Semitic themes.

At the time of the December incident, the Rams released a statement saying, “There is no place in this world for anti-Semitism or other forms of prejudice or hostility toward the Jewish people and people of any religion, ethnicity or race.” »